Verizon Is Close to a Deal to Buy
Northcoast Radio-Wave Licenses

By

Robert Frank, Jesse Drucker and

Peter Grant Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Dec. 19, 2002 12:22 a.m. ET

Verizon Wireless is close to a deal to acquire almost all of the radio-wave spectrum licenses owned by a venture backed by Cablevision Systems Corp. for about $700 million, said people close to the situation.

A deal could be announced within days, these people said, although they noted the talks are continuing and the two parties have yet to agree on a final price.